1 U.S. Marine dead, 5 missing after military planes crash off Japan’s coast

A U.S. Marine died Thursday after two U.S. military aircraft crashed mid-air off the coast of Japan earlier in the day, leaving one other Marine injured and five others missing, according to officials.

The Marine rescued after the crash was listed in fair condition at a hospital, military officials said.

An F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet and a KC-130 Hercules aerial tanker were “involved in a mishap” around 2 a.m. local time during routine training about 200 miles off the coast of Japan, military officials. Authorities later confirmed the crash happened during refueling, The Washington Post reported.

Two crew members were on the F/A-18 at the time of the crash and five were in the KC-130, The Associated Press reported. Officials said the aircraft took off from U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni.

The U.S. 7th Fleet and Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force and Coast Guard were assisting in the search for the missing Marines, officials said.

President Donald Trump thanked officials Thursday for their response to the incident.

“Whatever you need, we are here for you,” Trump wrote in a tweet.

My thoughts and prayers are with the @USMC crew members who were involved in a mid-air collision off the coast of Japan. Thank you to @USForcesJapan for their immediate response and rescue efforts. Whatever you need, we are here for you. @IIIMEF